July 11, 2015
One of the highlights of our drive along the narrow strip of land called the Outer Banks, was to stop and take a look at the famous LIGHTHOUSE on Cape Hatteras.
Located on Hatteras Island in Buxton, NC, Cape Hatteras Light is an historic icon on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, operated by the National Parks Service. At 210' in height, it is the tallest brick lighthouse structure in the United States.
The location of the Light was chosen because of the dangerous Diamond Shoals off shore. The collision of two ocean currents, the Gulf Stream and the Virginia Drift, a branch of the Labrador Current that flows down from Canada, creates ideal conditions to generate some serious Atlantic storms. This current has forced hundreds of ships to run aground on this 12 mile long sand bar. Perhaps thousands of ships have wrecked in this area over the years including the well known Civil War ship called The Monitor. This area became known as Graveyard of the Atlantic.
We pulled into the parking lot at Cape Hatteras Light and headed directly for the Gift Shop. As Debby had not been able to do any shopping all the time we were waiting on the bridge for the
barge to pass, she was having dizzy spells that only a shopping trip could cure. So we browsed and bought a couple of gifts, enjoying the air conditioning as much as possible before venturing out into the summer heat.
Having no desire to climb the 193' spiral staircase in the stiffening North Carolina heat, we opted to stand in the doorway for a photo shoot, instead. This is a unique and beautiful work of art, smartly painted with its unique black and white design. 
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